Electric impulse-type counter



Feb. 27, 1962 M. J. DUNN 3,022,943

ELECTRIC IMPULSE-TYPE COUNTER Filed Feb. 19, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 |11]:if 22a. A /7 N l; III Y* 20 esame-MIE Z6 I I 22 INVENT OR.

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ELECTRIC IMPULSE-TYPE COUNTER Filed Feb. 19, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arromvsyf Feb. 27, 1962 M. J. DUNN 3,022,943

ELECTRIC IMPuLsE-TYPE COUNTER Filed Feb; 19, 1960 s sheets-sheet :s

Corn-Rol. CIQculT INVEN TOR. /W/cH/Qz J DUNN BY Mfg/51,@ yf/Me UnitedStates Patent Oilee 3,022,943 Patented F eb, 27, 1962 3,022,943 ELECTRICIMPULSE-TYPE COUNTER Miehael .lames Dunn, Menomonee Falls, Wis.,assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Precision Products & Controls, Inc., acorporation of Oklahoma Filed Feb. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 10,000 Claims.(Cl. 23S-92) The present invention relates to counter mechanism ingeneral and more particularly to those of the impulse type.

This application is a continuation-impart application of my co-pendingapplication Serial Number 777,422, now abandoned, tiled December l,1958.

In resetting type counters, an undesirable delay occurs at the end of acount while the mechanism returns to the zero or starting position, andin certain counting operations, it is necessary to be able to countcontinually without any such time lag between cycles. It is alsodesirable to be able to readily vary the control circuit to provideashort interval transfer such as 1, 3A or 5 counts at `the end of eachcycle, orto alternate the control circuit between its two positions,holding each position for a complete cycle. The latter often is used inhatching op.

erations. Furthermore, in other counting operations, it is desirable toprovide a differential count, such as for example, to control the numberof partsentering a given area by adding the number of parts entering thearea and subtracting the-number of parts leaving the area. Heretofore,at least two separate counting devices were usually necessary to performthese three types of counting operations.

Accordingly, this` invention provides an improved mechanism which can beused either as a ,continual counter having zero time between cycles withshort interval or complete cycle. control switching, or as adifferential counter.

The present invention provides an impulse-type mechanism which iscontinually reversing in cycle and which provides a continuous countwith Zero time lag between cycles.

Another more specific aspect of the invention contemplates that thiscounter is also capable of func- AtioninU as a differential oradd-subtract countin mechanisrn with no changes being required to thecounter.

These and other objects andadvantages will appear hereinafter as thisdisclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a counter mechanism made inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan viewof the counter shown in FIG- URE 1, certain partsbeing shown in section, broken away or removed for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the counter, parts shown insection, broken away or removed;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken generally through the centerof the counter, certain parts removed for clarity;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary detail view taken generally on line 5-5ofVFIGURE 3, but on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 6 is a diagram of the electrical circuit of the counter when itis used with a 1-count, 3-count, or 5- count switching interval in whichthe external or control A4circuit is activated at or`near the end ofeach cycle.

FIGURE 7 is similar to FIGURE 6 but shows the circuit when the counteris used with a one-cycle switching interval in which the externalcircuit alternates between two positions but remains in one or the otherfor an entire cycle, and

external or control circuit is activated when the algebraic sum of theadd and the subtract pulses is equal to the count setting. This providesa maximum signal. For controlling between limits, a minimum voltagesignal is available at terminals 64 and 68.

' Referring in greater detail to the drawings, a rectangular basesupport 1 is fabricated from sheet metal and has a front angc 2 and rearflange 3 along its opposite sides. A generally channel-shaped supportframe 4 issecured by bolts 5 to the base support. Angle support members6 and 7, respectively, are also secured by bolts 8 to the hase 1 atopposite sides of the frame 4.

Electrical solenoids RR and RL are carried on their respective members 6and 7 and include swingable flapper arms 10 and 11 respectively.

A main shaft 15 is rotatably mounted in the channelshaped frame 4 andits front end extends forwardly therefrom and through the stationaryindicating dial 16 Secured to the rigid structure by bolts 17.

A pointer 18 is secured to shaft 15 (FIGURE 4) by a pin 19 and includesa serrated side 20. An adjustable pointer 22 is mounted onthe end ofshaft 15 and `is adjustable by its knob 23 in respect to the shaft. Aspring 24, which bears against cap bolt 25 threaded into the shaft end,acts against pointer22 to urge its serrated side 26 into engagement withthe complementary serrated side 20. Thus, pointer 22 may he adjustedrelative to pointer 13 fixed on shaft 15 to indicate a certain count orinurnber on the dial face. Pointers 18 and 22 form adjustable limitsbetween which the shaft may oscillate by means to be presentlydescribed.

A differential gear drive is mounted on shaft 15 within the frame 4 asfollows. A stub shaft 30 is iixed by set screw 31 (FIGURE 4) to theshaft 15 and has a bevel gear 32 rotatably mounted on its end. A bevelgear and ratchet wheel unit 33 is rotatably mounted on shaft 15 on oneside of bevel gear 32 and a similar unit 34 is mounted on the other sideof gear 32, both units of which are in constant mesh with gear 32. Units33 and 34 have a set of ratchet teeth 33a and 34a, respectively, aroundtheir periphery. The shaft 15 is driven in either direction throughunits 33 and 34.

Solenoids RL and RR furnish the power for driving the units 34 and 33,respectively, through their rocker arms and pawls as follows.

A rocker arm 36 is pivotally mounted on stub shaft 37 secured in theframe 4. One end of this arm is in contact with the swingable solenoidarm 10 and the other end of this arm has a spring-biased drive pawl 38pivoted thereto for engagement with teeth 33a. A holding pawl 39 ismounted on shaft 37 yand 4is also spring-loaded for engagement withteeth 33a. A drive spring 40 is connected to the one end of rocker arm36 and is also connected to an anchor pin 41 mounted in the base 1.

Solenoid RL is similarly connected with the ratchet wheel-bevel gearunit 34a through rocker arm 43, drive pawl 44, holding pawl 45 and drivespring 46.

Thus, when either one of the solenoids receives an impulse, it acts tocock its drive pawl against the bias of its drive spring, and the latterthen urges the rocker arm and d rive pawl to advance its ratchet wheelunit. This unit, in turn, reacts through bevel gear 32 against the otherunit, the latter at that time being stationary, and

of pulses permits very rapid operation of the mechanism, for example,approximately 1,000 pulses per minute.

When the solenoids RL and RR are not energized, the system is locked andthe counter cannot be reset to zero. For the purpose of being able toset the counter to a starting or zero position, a zero setting switch 50(FIGURE 2) is provided which is manually pushed to thereby causeenergization of both solenoids, permitting the drive pawls to be liftedfree of the ratchets and the fixed pointer 18 returned to the zero dialsetting. The adjustable pointer is then set to any number desired forthe particular operation.

Means are provided for directing the impulses to either one of thesolenoids to drive the shaft in either direction. This means comprises areversing switch 52 secured to the frame 4 and located at the zero markon the dial 16 through which it extends via dial opening 53. Thisreversing switch is of the set type; that is to say, it will remain ineither one of the two positions to which it is moved by pointer 1S orpointer 22. Whenever this switch is actu ated, it causes the shaft toreverse its direction of rotation.

An external control switch 54 is mounted on the dial at the zero markand terminates at its free end in the form of a roller 54a which alsoprotrudes through the dial opening. Switch 54 controls an externalcircuit through relay 55 and is a one-way switch that is actuated byeither one of the pointers as it hits the zero dial mark. When theprojecting lug 22a of pointer 22 pushes inwardly on switch 54, thelatter is momentarily closed thereby energizing an external controlcircuit relay 55. When engaged by the projection 18a of pointer 18, theswitch 54 is likewise closed again causing momentary energization of theexternal control circuit relay 55. Switch 54 returns to its normallyopen position as soon as the pointer disengages it. Relay 55 is mountedby its bracket 56 to the frame 4 and forms part of the counter.

In the wiring diagrams shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, the heavy linesindicate that wiring which the purchaser of the counter would installfor his particular use of the counter. The lighter weight wires indicatethe circuitry in the counter itself and which is supplied as a completepackage therewith. The terminal strip 57 secured on the base 1, andcontaining terminals 61 to 72 inclusive, provides a convenient means forconverting the counter from one type of counting operation to anotherwithout modifying the counter.

The direct current power pack D.C. is provided to give improvedoperation at higher speeds than is possible with alternating current.This direct current improves reliability in that it gives a more steadytractive force.

Assume a counting operation is desired which has a one-count switchinginterval, that is, one in which the external or control circuit is madeactive on the last count of a cycle and inactive on the succeedingcount. For example, suppose a strip of stock is to be perforated with aseries of holes, say I in number, after which it is cut olf by the punchpress. This operation is illustrated by the FIGURE 6 wiring diagram, forexample, in which a pulse switch 74 of a punch press or the like isoperated by movement of the press and a pulse is thereby sent to one ofthe solenoids RL or RR for each perforating stroke of the press. Theadjustable pointer is initially set to the number 10 on the dial face.The reversing switch 52 is shown for the beginning of a cycle in whichthe solenoid RR will be actuated, moving the pointer 22 counterclockwise(FIGURE 1). After l0 impulses have been received, the pointer 22 hasreturned to zero where it actuated the reversing switch 52 which thendirected the impulse to solenoid RL and caused the pointers to thenbegin their clockwise movement. At the same time that it contacted thereversing switch 52, the pointer 22 momentarily closed the externalcontrol switch 54 which caused energization of the external circuitrelay 55. As a result, relay 55 then operated a cut-oli device (notshown) on the press to sever a piece from the strip of stock.

The next cycle occurs by the pointers rotating in the clockwisedirection for 10 counts until pointer 18 engages both of the switches 52and S4, which, respectively, again directs the impulse to solenoid RR,causing rotation in the counterclockwise direction, and momentarilyactivates the external circuit relay S5 to again operate the presscut-off device.

As a result, each swing of the pointers in one direction or the otherrepresents one counting cycle, the end of which is terminated byactuation of the external control circuit.

It is important to note that the counter does not needto be reset to azero position after each cycle with a consequent time delay, butinstead, it counts in both directions with zero time lag between cycles.

FIGURE 7 shows the circuit for the counter when used with a one-cycleswitching interval. In this situa tion, the double-pole double throwexternal circuit switch 58 having pairs of contacts 58a and 58balternates between its two positions but remains in one or the other foran entire cycle, the relay 55 being energized during one cycle andde-energized during the next cycle. An example of such a use is inhatching operations wherein a number of containers travel along aconveyor to a fork in the conveyor where they are diverted by a gate toone series of machines or another. The gate would be operated by switch58 to stay in one position so a counted batch of containers is divertedto one series of machines and then the gate is moved while anothercounted batch of containers is diverted in the other direction to theother series of machines. The pair of contacts 58b of relay 55 arerequired only in the circuit ot FIGURE 7. These contacts open thecircuit to solenoid RL during the counterclockwise rotation cycle of thecounter to serve the important function of preventing feedback throughsolenoid RL.

In other words, the pole between contacts 58b serves to break thecircuit to one solenoid during one of its positions, so as toalternately cut the coil out of the circuit to prevent feedback to it.The contacts 58a may also be used in a second control circuit, ifdesired, in FIG. 6 or 8, and have been indicated in FIGURE 8 as having apair of leads 59 for that purpose.

FIGURE 8 shows a circuit with which the counter is used as anadd-subtract or differential counting device. As used in a car parkinglot, for example, when a predetermined number (as determined by theadjustable pointer settting) of cars have entered the parking area, itis desirable to close the entrance gate. Here the external controlcircuit is made active for one count when the algebraic sum of the addpulses and subtract pulses equal the count setting on the dial. In thisoperation, a pair of customer-operated pulse switches or photorelaypulse units 75, 76 act as the reversing means and send pulses to thesubtract solenoid RL or to the add solenoid RR, respectively. tInoperation, the entering cars operate the photo-relay unit 76 to send thepredetermined number of pulses to the add solenoid RR which causepointer 22 to rotate counterclockwise to close switches 52 and 54 andthereby energize the external circuit relay 5S which, in turn, causesthe entrance gate (not shown) to close, and which will remain closed aslong as the pointer 22 is at Zero to hold switch 54 closed. lf, beforethe parking lot lls up, a number of cars leave the lot, upon leavingthey will each activate photo-relay 75 which, in turn, energizes thesubtract solenoid RL, thereby rotating the pointer 22 in the clockwisedirection. Therefore, the external circuit relay 55 will not beenergized until the algebraic sum of the add and subtract pulses equalsthe count set by pointer 22, and a maximum signal will be provided atthis time. Thus. full condition in the parking lot will cause thecounter to signal the maximum external circuit, whereas empty conditionof the lot will cause the counter to signal the minimum externalcircuit.

With the present counter mechanism three separate functions areobtainable:

(1) Recycling with a signal of say 1, 3, or 5 counts at the end of eachcycle. k

(2) A batch type operation in which there is a1- ternate closing andopening of the control circuit, and each opening or closing remainingfor a complete cycle. This operation can be accomplished without anyrewiring of the counter to accommodate an additional relay.

(3) Differential counting with one signal showing maximum and anothershowing minimum, that is to say, it is possible to distinguish betweenmaximum and miniln either the (l) recycling operation or the (2)batching operation, the present counter permits a single source ofimpulses to be directed to either` solenoid and this is accomplished bythe reversingswitch 52.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. An electric impulse-type counter comprising, a reversible countindicating means including a single shaft having circumferentiallyspaced pointers secured thereto for rotation therewith, said meansadapted to count while moving in either rotational direction, drivemeans'for moving said indicating means, first solenoid means foradvancing said drive means and thereby said indicating means in onedirection, second solenoid means for advancing said drive means andthereby said indicating means in another direction, and a single switchactuated by said pointers when said indicating means reaches the end ofits rotative movement in either direction, said switch directingimpulses from a single source to either of said solenoids.

2. A reversible electric impulse-type counter comprising, a countindicating means movable in one direction and another and registering acount when moving in either direction, said means including a singleshaft having circumferentially spaced pointers secured thereto forrotation therewith, drive means for moving said indicating means, firstsolenoid means being adapted when energized 4to advance said drive meansand thereby said indicating means in `one direction, second solenoidmeans being adapted when energized to advance said drive means andthereby said indicating means in another direction, a single switch fordirecting electrical impulses issuing from a single source to onesolenoid or the other to cause actuation thereof, and another switch foractuating an external circuit, said switches both being actuated by saidindicating means at the limit of the latters movement in eitherdirection of rotation,

3. An electrical impulse-type counter comprising, a reversibly rotatableshaft, relatively adjustable members on said shaft to define Ithe limitsof rotation thereof, differential drive means for rotating-said shaft ineither di-- rection, first solenoid means being adapted when energizedto move said drive means and thereby said shaft in one direction, secondsolenoid means being adapted when energized to move said drive means andthereby said shaft in another direction, ratchet means between eachsolenoid and said drive means for step-by-step movement thereof, and asingle switch for directing impulses from a single source to either ofsaid solenoids, said switch being actuated by said members at saidlimits of rotation thereof.

4. A continually reversing electric impulse-type counter which iscapable of registering a count when moving in either direction, saidcounter comprising, count indicating means including a single shafthaving circumferentially spaced pointers secured thereto for rotationtherewith, drive meansfor moving said indicating means in one directionand another, first solenoid means for advancing said drive means andthereby said indicating means in one direction, second solenoid meansfor advancing said drive means and thereby said indicating means inanother direction, and a reversing switch adapted when in one positionto cause impulses to be fed to said first solenoid means and when inanother position to cause impulses from the same source as said firstsaid impulses to be fed to said second solenoid means, one of saidpointers at the limit of .the movement of said indicating means ineither direction being adapted to actuate said switch.

5. A continually reversing electric impulse-type counter which has acounting cycle during each direction of movement, said countercomprising, a reversibly rotatable shaft, relatively adjustable pointerssecured to said shaft and which define the limits of shaft movement,differential drive means for rotating said shaft in either direction,tirs-t solenoid means for operating said drive means and thereby saidshaft in one direction, second solenoid means for operating said drivemeans and thereby said shaft in another direction, ratchet means betweeneach solenoid and said differential drive means to effect a step-by-stepcounting movement thereof, a reversing switch adapted when in oneposition to cause impulses to he fed to said first solenoid means andwhen in another position to cause impulses from the same source as saidfirst said impulses to be fed to said second solenoid means, and anexternal control switch, said pointers being adapted to actuate bothsaid switches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,269,043 Spaunburg Jan. 6, 1942 2,383,702 Berck Aug. 28, 1945 2,441,767Johansson May 18, 1948 2,588,107 Grabau Mar. 4, 1952 2,644,150 Burn June30, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES A Mechanism That Will Reverse at AnyPredetermined Number of Revolutions from Machinery, October 191i, pp.11S-11,9.-

